On-vehicle data processing and display system responsive to a vehicle mode of operation

ABSTRACT

An on-vehicle data processing system is provided which can cause the vehicle information to be displayed on a display device 10. The on-vehicle data processing system has a mode setting unit 32 for setting the running and stop modes and a data processing unit 34 for computing the mode images. The data processing unit 34 computes the running mode images representing the running states of the vehicle in real time while in the running mode and the stop mode images representing the details of the vehicle information while in the stop mode. Thus, the running mode images, more easily viewed by the driver, can be displayed on the display device in the running mode while the stop mode images, preferentially displaying the contents of the vehicle information, can be displayed on the display device in the stop mode.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an on-vehicle data processing systemand particularly to such a system which can indicate the running andstop mode images on an on-vehicle display.

2. Prior Art

At present, display devices such as TV and other monitors are frequentlymounted on vehicles. It is expected that on-vehicle display devicesincreasingly spread since their size and manufacturing cost will bereduced with advancement of the technology.

However, the on-vehicle display devices of the prior art were only usedto indicate the present position of a vehicle through a navigationsystem or to display television scenes through a TV receiver. They wererarely used in the other applications.

With the navigation system, the on-vehicle display devices will notfrequently be used as the vehicles are daily running. Television sceneswill not be viewed by the drivers as the vehicles are running. Inpractice, therefore, the on-vehicle display devices were rarely used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the problems in the prior art, an object of the presentinvention is to provide an on-vehicle data processing system whichdisplays data on a vehicle on an on-vehicle display device. The data tobe displayed when the vehicle is running are different from the data tobe displayed when the vehicle is not running, so that the on-vehicledisplay device can be effectively used.

To this end, the present invention provides a on-vehicle data processingsystem comprising mode setting means responsive to the present speed ofa vehicle for selecting and setting one of running and stop modes anddisplay data processing means for computing running mode imagesindicating running states of the vehicle when the running mode isselected and set and for computing stop mode images indicating detailedvarious vehicle information when the stop mode is selected and set,thereby causing the running or stop mode images to be displayed on anon-vehicle display device.

Thus, the on-vehicle data processing system of the present invention canbe responsive to the present speed of the vehicle for selecting andsetting one of the running and stop modes. In the running mode, therunning mode images indicating running states of the vehicle arecomputed and displayed on the on-vehicle display device. In the stopmode, the stop mode images indicating detailed vehicle information arecomputed and displayed on the on-vehicle display device.

In such a manner, the on-vehicle data processing system of the presentinvention can preferentially cause the running mode images more easilyviewed by the driver to display on the on-vehicle display device whenthe vehicle running mode is selected and set and can preferentiallycause the stop mode images to indicate the contents of the informationto display on the on-vehicle display device when the stop mode isselected and set. Thus, the driver can obtain various vehicleinformation from the on-vehicle display device.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the on-vehicledata processing system may comprise control means for selecting any oneof items for the running or stop modes, wherein the display dataprocessing means computes the running or stop mode images representing aselected item.

Thus, the control means can be used to select any one of the items forthe running and stop modes. For example, the items indicating therunning states of the vehicle include speed, fuel consumption, torque,acceleration and others. Any one of these running mode items can beselected and displayed on the on-vehicle display device in real time.When the item of torque is selected, for example, variations in torquecan be indicated on the on-vehicle display device in real time.

The details of the vehicle information may include various itemsindicating vehicle maintenance information, travel information andothers. Any one of these items can similarly be selected and indicatedon the on-vehicle display device.

Thus, the driver can select any necessary item from various items andcause it to display on the on-vehicle display device.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the on-vehicledata processing system may comprise memory means for storing history ofdata of an item selected for the running mode image as a data history,the control means being capable of selecting the data history as an itemfor the stop mode image, the display data processing means beingoperative to read the data history from said memory means and to computethe stop mode images for a graphical display when the data history itemis selected in the stop mode, to indicate variations of the data.

In such a manner, the on-vehicle data processing system of the presentinvention is adapted to store history of data displayed as running modeimages in real time as a data history and to graphically display thedata history on the on-vehicle display device as a stop mode image whenthe stop mode is selected and set.

For example, when the fuel consumption item is to be indicated, thepresent fuel consumption can be indicated in real time when the runningmode is selected and set while variations in the fuel consumption onvehicle running can be graphically indicated in the stop mode. Thus, thedriver can analyze his or her own driving technique relating to the fuelconsumption.

It is further preferred that the control means is operative to set awarning value relating to at least one of the running and stop modeimages, the display data processing means being operative to output awarning signal when a level of the selected item set by the warningvalue reaches that warning level.

Thus, the driver can be warned when the level of the selected itemreaches the set warning level. For example, with the fuel consumption,the driver can be warned with respect to a rapidly degraded consumptiondue to over-acceleration or the like if the lower limit of the fuelconsumption has been set.

It is still further preferred that the mode setting means is operativeto set a first reference speed at which the running mode is switched tothe stop mode to be lower than a second reference speed at which thestop mode is switched to the running mode.

This can cause the reference speeds for switching between the runningand stop modes to have a hysteresis characteristic. When the vehicle isrepeatedly started and stopped as in a traffic jam, the display imagescan be prevented from frequently being switched from one mode to anothermode, resulting in stable images on the on-vehicle display device.

It is further preferred that the display data processing means isoperative to display larger characters in the running mode images andsmaller characters in the stop mode images.

Thus, the characters such as letters and the like can be displayedlarger in the running mode images and smaller in the stop mode images.The running mode images can be more easily viewed by the driver whilebeing displayed in real time. In the stop mode images, the details ofthe vehicle information can be preferentially displayed to indicatetheir contents.

It is further preferred that the display data processing means isoperative to compute the images for daytime with the foreground beingbrighter than the background and to compute images for night with theforeground being darker than the background.

When the relative brightness of the foreground and background is thusreversed between the daytime and night images, the images may be betterviewed both in the daytime and night.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating part of interior of a vehicle in which anon-vehicle data processing system and display device according to oneembodiment of the present invention are mounted.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the system of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a control unit.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the basic operation of the systemaccording to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the menu selection.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the running mode image display.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating the stop mode image display.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating the speedometer display.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating the display of "mainte" item.

FIGS. 10(A) and 10(B) illustrate examples of menu images.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a speedometer image in a running mode.

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a power meter image in a running mode.

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a torque meter image in a running mode.

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a tachometer image in a running mode.

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating a boost meter image in a running mode.

FIG. 16 is a view illustrating an eco meter image in a running mode.

FIGS. 17(A) and 17(B) illustrate "mainte" display in a running and stopmode.

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating "trip" display in a stop mode.

FIG. 19(A) and 19(B) illustrate "travel" display in a running and stopmode.

FIG. 20 is a view illustrating "record" display in a stop mode.

FIG. 21(A) and 21(B) illustrate "trace" display in a running and stopmode.

FIG. 22 is a view illustrating "graph" display in a stop mode.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart illustrating the accumulation of the datahistory.

FIG. 24 is a flow chart illustrating the graphic display operation ofthe data history.

FIG. 25(A) and 25(B) illustrate the input and display images of warningvalue.

FIGS. 26(A) and 26(B) respectively show the images for daytime and nightwith brightness of the foreground and the backgrounds beingcorrespondingly reversed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will now be described by way of example withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the inside of a vehicle around the driver'sseat in which an on-vehicle data processing system and display deviceaccording to this embodiment are mounted.

An on-vehicle display device 10 is fixedly mounted on a position thatcan be viewed by the driver while in his or her seat. The on-vehicledisplay device 10 can be controlled relating to its display statesthrough a remote control unit 20.

The on-vehicle display device 10 may be any one of commerciallyavailable television (TV) displays, navigation system displays and otherdisplays made exclusively for the present invention. In this embodiment,a commercially available TV display device is used.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a on-vehicle data processing system inthis embodiment.

The on-vehicle data processing system comprises a running dataprocessing circuit 30 and a memory 40.

The running data processing circuit 30 receives control signals from theremote control unit 20 and also other signals from various parts of thevehicle. In this embodiment, the vehicle has an engine 50 electronicallycontrolled by an engine control unit 52. The engine control unit 52provides, to the running data processing circuit 30, pulse signalsrepresenting engine speed, pulse signals representing the number ofrevolution of the tire, voltage signals representing a capacity of airintake of the engine, pulse signals representing injection quantity andother pulse signals.

The running data processing circuit 30 comprises a mode setting unit 32and a display data processing unit 34.

The mode setting unit 32 determines the speed of the vehicle from theinput signals and uses the determined speed to set one of running andstop modes. In this embodiment, a first reference speed at which therunning mode is switched to the stop mode is set to be lower than asecond reference speed at which the stop mode is switched to the runningmode.

The display data processing unit 34 is responsive to the input signalsfor computing various running data in the vehicle. In the running mode,the display data processing unit 34 displays the running states of thevehicle in real time on the display device 10.

The memory 40 stores the signals input to the running data processingcircuit 30 and the running data computed by the running data processingcircuit 30 in the running mode, if necessary.

In the stop mode, the display data processing unit 34 reads data fromthe memory 40, computes details of the vehicle information and displaysthe details of the data on the display device 10.

In this embodiment, the mode setting unit 32 provides a hysteresischaracteristic to the reference speeds used to switch between the stopand running modes. When the vehicle is repeatedly stopped and started asin a traffic jam, the displayed images can be prevented from frequentlybeing switched from one to another. Thus, stable images are provided onthe on-vehicle display device.

In this embodiment, items to be displayed in the running mode includespeed, power, tacho (engine speed), torque, boost and eco (fuelconsumption), as shown in FIG. 10(A). Any of these items can be selectedby the driver. FIGS. 11 to 16 illustrate the displayed images in therunning mode representing these items.

In this embodiment, selectable items to be displayed in the stop modeinclude "mainte", "trip", "travel", "record", "trace", "graph", "set up"and "pit off", as shown in FIG. 10(B). FIGS. 17A and B, 18, 19A and B,20, 21A and B, 22, and 25A and B show the displayed images in the stopmode representing the above items. The "pit off" is used to instruct thecontinuous display of the running mode images even in the stop mode.

The top left corner of each of the running mode images shown in FIGS. 11to 16 indicates an item selected and displayed in the running mode whilethe top right corner represents an item selected in the stop mode.Similarly, the top right corner of each of the stop mode images shown inFIGS. 17A and B, 18, 19A and B, 20, 21A and B, 22, and 25A and Bindicates an item selected and displayed in the stop mode while the topleft corner represents a selected item in the running mode. Thus, thedriver can know which items are displayed in the stop and running modeimages.

In this embodiment, the display data processing unit 34 indicates largercharacters in the running mode and smaller characters in the stop mode.Thus, the driver can more easily view the running mode images indicatingthe vehicle running states in real time. In the stop mode, the detailsof the vehicle information can be displayed with full considerationgiven to their contents.

The display data processing unit 34 also functions to display theforeground and background reversed in brightness for daytime or night.Both in the daytime and night, the images can be more clearly viewed bythe driver.

FIGS. 26A and B show an example of the image switched in brightness fordaytime or night. As an illumination key 29 in the remote control unit20 is operated, the daytime image shown in FIG. 26(A) can be switched tothe night image shown in FIG. 26(B) or vice versa. It is selected hereinthat the frequently changing parts such as letters, indicators andothers are in foreground while the other parts are in background. In thedaytime image, the background and foreground are white and black,respectively. In the night image, the white and black are reversed fromthe daytime image.

To increase viewability, the brightness of the foreground can be fixedwhile the brightness of the background can be regulated.

The structure of the on-vehicle data processing system according to thisembodiment will be described in more detail.

FIG. 3 shows the details of the remote control unit 20 used in thisembodiment. The remote control unit 20 comprises a power key 21, achange key 22 for switching TV display to the system of this embodimentor vice versa, a menu key 23, a start/stop key 24, a reset key 25, anitem selection key 26 including function keys 26-1, 26-2 . . . 26-5 andother keys 27, 28 and 29.

When the power key 21 is turned on and if the change key 22 is operatedto select TV display, TV images received by a TV receiver (not shown)are displayed on the display device 10. When the change key 22 isoperated to select the system of this embodiment, vehicle data outputfrom the system of this embodiment will be displayed on the displaydevice 10.

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart representing the basic operation of the systemaccording to this embodiment.

As the power key 21 shown in FIG. 3 is first turned on and when thechange key 22 is operated to select the system of this embodiment, apredetermined initialization is executed at step 100. At step 102, it isdetermined whether a menu flag is 1 or 0. The menu flag is set "1" whenthe menu image shown in FIG. 10 is called to select any item.

Since the menu flag is normally set at "0" on start of the system, theprogram proceeds to step 104. At step 104, it is determined whether thevehicle is in running or stop mode. In the running mode, a running flagis set "1". In the stop mode, the running flag is set "0".

If it is determined that the vehicle is in the running mode, a runningmode image representing the item currently selected is displayed on thedisplay device 10 (step 106).

If the vehicle is in the stop mode, a stop mode image representing theitem currently selected is displayed on the display device 10 (step108).

If the driver wants to change the item displayed in the running or stopmode, the menu button 23 of the remote control unit 20 is operated. Themenu flag is set "1". The program proceeds from the step 102 to step 110at which it is determined whether the vehicle is in the running or stopmode. If it is determined that the vehicle is in the running mode(running flag=1), a menu image as shown in FIG. 10(A) is displayed atstep 112. If the vehicle is in the stop mode (running flag=0), a menuimage as shown in FIG. 10(B) is displayed at step 114. Moreparticularly, if it is determined that the vehicle is in the runningmode, a window is opened over the running mode image currently beingdisplayed to indicate the menu image 140 of FIG. 10(A). If it isdetermined that the vehicle is in the stop mode, another window isopened over the stop mode image currently being displayed to indicatethe menu image 150 of FIG. 10(B).

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart illustrating the menu selection.

As the menu selection is first initiated, the menu flag is set "0" atstep 210. At step 212, a menu image as shown in FIG. 10(A) or 10(B) isdisplayed. The item currently selected is highlighted to be brighterthan the other items (step 214).

As the menu button 23 of the remote control unit 20 is pressed, allitems are highlighted one by one from the top to the bottom of the menuimage of FIG. 10. Thus, any item can be selected (steps 216 and 218).

When a desired item is highlighted and the OK key 26-5 in the remotecontrol unit 20 is operated, the menu selection process is completed(step 220). Then, the running or stop mode image representing that newlyselected item will be displayed.

If any one of the items "speed". . . "eco" is selected from the menuimage of FIG. 10(A) in the running mode, a corresponding drive (DR) modeflag is set at any of "0"-"5", respectively. Similarly, if any one ofthe items "mainte" ... "pit off" from the menu image of FIG. 10(B) inthe stop mode, a corresponding pit (PT) mode flag is set at any of"0"-"7", respectively.

FIG. 6 illustrates the flow chart of the running mode image displayrepresenting the item selected at step 106 in FIG. 4.

In this operation, the display item (drive mode flag) selected by therunning mode menu selection (step 112) is identified at steps 310-320for drive mode flags 0,1 . . . 5, respectively. The running mode imageof this display item is displayed at steps 330-340, respectively.

For example, if the item "speed" is selected as display item (drive modeflag=0) from the menu image, the vehicle speed is computed in real timeand displayed on the display device as shown in FIG. 11. The peak speedwhich has been stored in memory 40 is also displayed simultaneously. Inthis embodiment, a speed limit may previously be set as a warning value,as will be described later. Each time when the speed of the vehiclereaches the warning value, the driver will be warned by blinks of theimage or the like. This may prevent the vehicle from being driven onstreets greater than the speed limit.

In the system of this embodiment, the running data processing circuit 30can be responsive to input data for computing the vehicle power, enginespeed, torque boost, fuel consumption and other factors substantially inreal time, these computed factors being displayed on the display device10 as shown in FIGS. 12-16 (steps 330-340). Thus, the driver can obtaindata which would not be obtained from the on-vehicle meterssubstantially in real time from the display device 10. For example, ifthe fuel consumption is degraded, the acceleration pedal can be pressedin a manner to save the fuel consumption.

When the running mode images of the respective items are to be displayedas shown in FIG. 6, the system of this embodiment writes the data of thedisplayed items sequentially into the memory 40 as a data history. Forexample, if the speed is to be displayed in the running mode image, thedata relating to the speed are sequentially written into the memory 40as a data history. Thus, the data history can be displayed on thedisplay device as will be described later.

FIG. 8 shows a flow chart illustrating the detailed operation (step 420)for a display of a speedometer in the running mode.

In such a case, the background image (part with no motion or with lessmotion) of FIG. 11 is first displayed at step 510. The pointer of thespeedometer and peak speed displays are then initialized at steps 512and 514.

Subsequently, the speed data is read out at step 516 and the pointer ofthe speedometer corresponding to the foreground image (part with motion)is displayed in real time at step 518. At the same time, the peak speedis displayed on the display device at step 520.

Thus, the speed and its peak can be displayed on the display device inreal time, as shown in FIG. 11.

Such a display of running mode image is continued during the period thatit is determined at step 524 that the vehicle is in the running mode. Atstep 524, when the speed of the vehicle is equal to or lower less than10 Km/Hour and the PT mode flag is any value other than 7, it isdetermined that the vehicle is in the stop mode. Otherwise, it isdetermined that the vehicle is in the running mode.

If it is determined at step 524 that the vehicle is switched from therunning mode to the stop mode, the program proceeds to step 526 and setsthe running flag to "0" and the display of the running mode image isterminated.

If the menu button 23 of the remote control unit 20 is operated when therunning mode image is displayed (step 522), the program proceeds to step528 at which the menu flag is set "1" and such a display of the menuimage as shown in FIG. 10(A) will be made.

Although the running mode images of the other items are displayedsubstantially in the same manner, only the running mode image of "eco"(fuel consumption) item is different from the other running mode imagesin that the peak value displayed at step 520 is replaced by an averagevalue.

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of the display of such a stop mode imagedisplay representing the item selected at step 108 in FIG. 4.

When this stop mode image is to be displayed, it is first determinedfrom the value of the PT mode flag at steps 410, 412 . . . 424 whichitem is selected from the menu image shown in FIG. 10(B) for pit modeflags 0,1 . . . 7, respectively.

At steps 430, 432 . . . 444, the stop mode image of the selected item isdisplayed on the display device, respectively.

For example, if the "mainte" item is selected (pit mode flag=0), a stopmode image as shown in FIG. 17(A) is displayed (step 430). The "mainte"display image is used as a record of the history of maintenance. Forexample, four factors including engine oil, engine oil filter, tire andfree items, a set distance to be traveled can be displayed and a covereddistance is indicated by bar graph. Thus, the conditions of the vehiclein the maintenance item can promptly be recognized by the driver.

The details of setting of the distance to be traveled will be describedlater.

If the "trip" item is selected from the menu image, such a stop modeimage as shown in FIG. 18 is displayed (step 432). In this display, timepassed from when the reset button 25 of the remote control unit 20 ispressed, covered distance, amount of consumed fuel and average fuelconsumption are computed and displayed.

If the "travel" item is selected from the menu image, such a stop modeimage as shown in FIG. 19(A) is displayed (step 434). This indicates theremaining part in the distance set by the driver, time required totravel the remaining distance, expected amount of fuel consumption andexpected average fuel consumption. The remaining distance is alsodisplayed in the level meter.

Change of the set distance is performed by opening a window as shown inFIG. 19(B), in the same manner as when the aforementioned menu image ischanged.

If the "record" item is selected from the menu image, such a stop modeimage as shown in FIG. 20 is displayed (step 436). This image shows, forexample, three different past records of distance, time, speed and fuelconsumption from the "start" to the "stop" through operation of thebutton 24 of the remote control unit 20 in the running mode. The pastdata are sequentially erased and replaced by a new data.

Such a display is effective when a distance from the driver's home tohis or her office, time required to travel the distance, speed and fuelconsumption are measured through different routes. As a result, theshortest distance from the driver's home to his or her office or thecourse requiring less time can be objectively determined.

If the "trace" item is selected from the menu image, a stop mode imageas shown in FIG. 21(A) is displayed (step 438). This image indicatesmeasurements of running time, engine speed, speed and power relating toa transverse axis on which preset distances are placed.

In other words, the set button 28 is pressed at a step in which theimage shown in FIG. 21(A) is displayed. Such an input window as shown inFIG. 21(B) is then opened to input measured distances in the same manneras described earlier.

After such a setting has terminated, the vehicle is driven and the startbutton 24 of the remote control unit 20 is turned on. In connection witha distance from the start to a predetermined place (e.g., 10 Km/Hour),the engine speed, speed, power and required time are sequentially storedin the memory 40.

When the vehicle is switched to the stop mode, the data are read outfrom the memory 40 and displayed on the display device as such an imageas shown in FIG. 21(A). At this time, the driver operates the buttons26-3 and 26-4 in the remote control unit 20 to move a cursor K in thehorizontal direction. Numerical values of the respective data at theposition of the cursor K are indicated on the corresponding displayposition. Thus, the driver can view such displayed data to analyze therunning course.

If the "graph" item is selected from the menu image, a stop mode imageas shown in FIG. 22 is displayed (step 440). At the same time when thevehicle is switched from the running mode to the stop mode, the datahistory of the data displayed in the running mode (e.g., data history ofspeed) are read out from the memory 40 and graphically displayed on thedisplay device as shown in FIG. 22. In other words, at a point of timewhen the running mode is switched to the stop mode, the past variationsof the speed for several minutes are graphically displayed on thedisplay device. Since the variations of the data displayed in real timein the running mode are graphically indicated as a data history, thedriver can promptly determine the past history of the data from thedisplayed image.

If the "set up" item is selected from the menu image, a stop mode imageas shown in FIG. 25(A) is displayed (step 442). Thus, the system of thisembodiment includes means for setting a warning value relating to atleast one item of one of the running and stop mode images and foroutputting a warning signal as the value of the selected item for whichthe warning value is set reaches the warning value. For example, warningvalues can be set for items of "speed", "power" and "tacho".

When each of the warning values is to be set, the set button 28 isoperated to display a menu image as shown in FIG. 25(A) on the displaydevice.

The buttons 26-1 and 26-2 are then used to select an item for setting awarning value from the "speed", "power" and "tacho" items. In thisfigure, the item of "speed" is selected.

The buttons 26-3 and 26-4 are then used to input numerical values forwarning a speed. Thereafter, the OK button 26-5 is pressed to terminatethe setting of alarm.

When the vehicle is in the running mode, the running data processingcircuit 30 intermittently displays an alarm image on the display deviceas shown in FIG. 25(B), with a warning sound when the alarm setting item(e.g., "speed" item) reaches the warning value. The driver can promptlyknow that the speed reaches the warning level, from the alarm displayand warning sound. This can prevent the vehicle from being drivengreater than the speed limit.

Similarly, the warning displays of "tacho", "power" and so on can be setto prevent the overrunning of the engine, the overoutput of the powerand so on.

As described, in the stop mode, the details of the vehicle informationcan be displayed on the display device as stop mode images such that thedriver can know the detailed factors of the vehicle information from thestop mode images.

As shown in FIGS. 17A-22, particularly, the stop mode images indicatesmaller characters included therein than those of the running modeimages so that the more detailed vehicle information can be transmittedto the driver.

FIG. 9 shows a flow chart illustrating the details of display operationfor the "mainte" item (step 420) of FIG. 7.

First, a background display flag is set "1" at step 610. The programthen proceeds through step 612 to step 614. At step 614, the backgrounddisplay flag is again set "0". The background is displayed at step 616.If no key is operated at this time, the program proceeds through steps618, 620 and 622 to step 624. At step 624, it is determined whether thespeed of the vehicle is equal to or higher than 15 Km/Hour. If the speedof the vehicle does not exceed 15 Km/Hour, it is determined that thestop mode continues. The program returns to step 612 wherein a "mainte"display image as shown in FIG. 17(A) continues to be displayed.

As the speed of the vehicle exceeds 15 Km/Hour, it is determined at step624 that the vehicle has been switched from the stop mode to the runningmode. At step 626, the running flag is set "1" and the running modeimage of the item selected at present begins to be displayed.

In this embodiment, it is seen that the stop mode is switched to therunning mode at 15 Km/Hour. As shown by step 524 in FIG. 8, it isfurther seen that the running mode is switched to the stop mode at 10Km/Hour. In such a manner, a reference speed at which the vehicle isswitched from the stop mode to the running mode is higher than anotherreference speed at which the vehicle is switched from the running modeto the stop mode. Thus, when the vehicle is repeatedly stopped andstarted in a traffic jam or when the vehicle is driven at a low speed,the stop and running mode images can be prevented from being frequentlyswitched from one mode to another mode to provide stable images on thedisplay device.

If such an image as shown in FIG. 17(A) is displayed and when it iswanted to change the set distance (20,000 Kilometers in FIG. 17), theset button 27 of the remote control unit 20 is pressed. Thus, theprogram proceeds from step 618 to step 628 wherein distance data formaintenance begin to be input at step 630. In such a case, four items ofengine oil, filter, tire and freedom are independently set with respectto their distances. For example, when the set button 27 is operated, anyone of the four items can be selected. After the selection of item, theOK button 26-5 is then operated to open such a window as shown in FIG.17(B). The buttons 26-1 to 26-4 in the remote control unit 20 are thenoperated to input and set a desired distance. Finally, the OK button26-5 is operated to complete the input operation and to close thewindow, the display being returned back to the image of FIG. 17(A).

When the series of distance data inputs (step 630) is terminated, thebackground flag is set "1" at step 632. The program then proceeds fromstep 620 to step 612 wherein the "mainte" image is displayed in the samemanner as described above.

When the driver wants to change the displayed items in the stop mode,the menu button 23 of the remote control unit 20 is operated. Thus, theprogram proceeds through steps 618 and 628 to step 634. At step 636, themenu flag is set "1". The program then proceeds to the selection of menuimages shown in FIG. 5 through steps 620 and 622. Thus, a desired itemcan be selected.

The display of the respective stop mode images shown in FIGS. 18-21B andthe rewriting of set values are basically similar to those of the"mainte" image shown in FIGS. 17A and B and will not further describedherein.

FIG. 23 shows a flow chart illustrating the writing of a data historyinto the memory 40 for a graph display shown in FIG. 22 in the runningmode. FIG. 24 shows a flow chart illustrating the details of displayoperation for the graph on the display device using the written datahistory.

In the running mode, for example, assuming that the item "speed" isselected, an interruption program to the main program is periodicallyexecuted every 0.3 seconds at step 710 of FIG. 23. At step 712, thespeed data being displayed in the running mode image is read into thememory 40 at an address specified by INTI. The address INTI is thenincreased by one (step 714).

As the value of INTI reaches 256, the program proceeds from step 716 tostep 718 wherein the INTI value is set "0".

For every 0.3 seconds, the speed data read are sequentially stored inthe memory. Thus, the last 256 speed data read will always be written inthe memory 40 at addresses 0-255.

FIG. 24 shows a display operation of a graph using the history datawritten into the memory 40 on the display device. At step 810, such abackground image as shown in FIG. 22 is displayed. At step 812, a valueof a read address GRFC is set at an address (INTI-1) which has beenspecified to be the last address written into the memory 40.

At step 814, a graphic counter GRFI is set "0". At step 816, the data ofaddress GRFC is then read out from the memory 40 and graphicallydisplayed on the display device.

At step 818, the read address GRFC is decreased by one. At step 820, thegraphic counter GRFI is increased by one.

Such a counting operation is repeatedly executed until the count of thegraphic counter GRFI, for example, reaches 200 (step 822), and the datahistory such as speed and so on are graphically displayed on the displaydevice, as shown in FIG. 22. The menu flag setting at steps 824-828 aswell as the stop mode determination at step 830 are similar to those ofFIG. 9 and will not further be described herein.

The difference between the graph of data history shown in FIG. 22 andthe graph shown in FIG. 21A resides in that the horizontal axis in thegraph of FIG. 22 is set with reference to time while the horizontal axisin the graph of FIG. 21A is set with reference to distance.

The graph shown in FIG. 22 can be made to display the data history forone minute or several minutes in the past.

Therefore, the driver can visually and promptly grasp the variations ofspeed from one minute to several minutes in the past. Based on suchdata, the driver can try to improve his or her own driving technique.

The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodimentthereof, and various modification can be made within the scope of theinvention.

As described, the on-vehicle data processing system of the presentinvention can indicate on the display device the running mode imageswith large characters more easily viewed by the driver while in therunning mode and the stop mode images with smaller characters to displaythe details of the vehicle information while in the stop mode. Thus, thedriver can obtain various information from the on-vehicle display deviceand effectively use the on-vehicle display device.

What is claimed is:
 1. An on-vehicle data processing system thatprocesses data while an engine is running based on a present-speed of avehicle detected by a detector, comprising:mode setting means responsiveto the present speed of the vehicle for selecting and setting one ofrunning and stop modes, the stop mode being active while the engine isrunning; display data processing means for computing running mode imagesindicating running states of the vehicle when the running mode isselected and set and for computing stop mode images indicating variousvehicle information when the stop mode is selected and set; and anon-vehicle display device for displaying the running or stop mode imagecomputed by said display data processing means.
 2. An on-vehicle dataprocessing system as defined in claim 1, further comprising controlmeans for selecting any one of items for a running or stop mode image,wherein said display data processing means computes the running or stopmode image representing a selected item.
 3. An on-vehicle dataprocessing system as defined in claim 2 wherein said control means isoperative to set a warning value relative to at least one of the runningand stop mode images and wherein said display data processing means isoperative to output a warning signal when a level of selected item setby the warning value reaches the warning value.
 4. An on-vehicle dataprocessing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said display dataprocessing means is operative to display larger characters in therunning mode images and smaller characters in the stop mode images. 5.An on-vehicle data processing system that processes data while an engineis running based on a present-speed of a vehicle detected by a detector,comprising:mode setting means responsive to the present speed of thevehicle for selecting and setting one of running and stop modes; displaydata processing means for computing running mode images indicatingrunning states of the vehicle when the running mode is selected and setand for computing stop mode images indicating various vehicleinformation when the stop mode is selected and set; an on-vehicledisplay device for displaying the running or stop mode image computed bysaid display data processing means; control means for selecting any oneof items for a running or stop mode image, wherein said display dataprocessing means computes the running or stop mode image represented aselected item; and memory means for storing history of data of an itemselected for the running mode image as a data history, said controlmeans being capable of selecting the data history as an item for thestop mode image, said display data processing means being operative toread said data history from said memory means and to compute the stopmode image for a graphical display when data history item is selected inthe stop mode, wherein in the running mode, data of selected item aredisplayed in real time and in the stop mode, the data history isdisplayed in a graph to indicate variations of the data.
 6. Anon-vehicle data processing system that processes data while an engine isrunning based on a present-speed of a vehicle detected by a detector,comprising:mode setting means responsive to the present speed of thevehicle for selecting and setting one of running and stop modes; displaydata processing means for computing running mode images indicatingrunning states of the vehicle when the running mode is selected and setand for computing stop mode images indicating various vehicleinformation when the stop mode is selected and set; and an on-vehicledisplay device for displaying the running or stop mode images computedby said display data processing means, wherein said mode setting meanssets a first reference speed at which the running mode is switched tothe stop mode and sets a second reference speed at which the stop modeis switched to the running mode, and wherein the first reference speedis lower than the second reference speed.
 7. An on-vehicle dataprocessing system that processes data while an engine is running basedon a present-speed of a vehicle detected by a detector, comprising:modesetting means responsive to the present speed of the vehicle forselecting and setting one of running and stop modes; display dataprocessing means for computing running mode images indicating runningstates of the vehicle when the running mode is selected and set and forcomputing stop mode images indicating various vehicle information whenthe stop mode is selected and set; an on-vehicle display device fordisplaying the running or stop mode image computed by said display dataprocessing means; and said display data processing means is operative tocompute images for daytime with the foreground being brighter than thebackground and to compute images for night with the foreground beingdarker than the background.
 8. An on-vehicle data displaying system thatprocesses data while an engine is running, comprising:sensing means forsensing one of a running state and a stop state of a vehicle, the stopstate being active while the engine is running; computation means forcomputing on-vehicle data which corresponds to one of the running stateand the stop state of the vehicle based on a current state of thevehicle sensed by said sensing means; and on-vehicle data display meansfor displaying the on-vehicle data computed by said computation means,wherein said on-vehicle data display means displays running mode imageswhen said sensing means senses the running state and displays stop modeimages when said sensing means senses the stop state.
 9. The on-vehicledata displaying system as defined in claim 8, wherein said on-vehicledata display means is mounted on a vehicle dashboard and displays one ofa television broadcast, a navigation system and on-vehicle data.
 10. Theon-vehicle data displaying system as defined in claim 9, wherein saidon-vehicle data display means is mounted separately from an instrumentpanel.
 11. The on-vehicle data displaying system as defined in claim 9,further comprising display data processing means for selecting from oneof daytime mode and nighttime mode and processing the on-vehicle datafor display in accordance with the selected mode.
 12. An on-vehicle dataprocessing system, comprising:on-vehicle data display means; means forsensing a driving speed of a vehicle, wherein said on-vehicle datadisplay means displays on-vehicle data of a first information type whensaid driving speed is greater than a predetermined driving speed anddisplays on-vehicle data of a second information type when said drivingspeed is less than said predetermined driving speed while an engine isrunning, and wherein the first information type is displayed usingelements larger than said second information type.
 13. An on-vehicledata processing system, comprising:on-vehicle data display means; meansfor sensing a driving speed of a vehicle, wherein said on-vehicle datadisplay means displays on-vehicle data of a first information type whensaid driving speed is greater than a predetermined driving speed anddisplays on-vehicle data of a second information type when said drivingspeed is less than said predetermined driving speed while an engine isrunning, and wherein the first information type content is less than thesecond information type content.
 14. An on-vehicle display device fordisplaying one of a television broadcast, a navigation system and outputfrom an on-vehicle data computation device, the on-vehicle datacomputation device comprising:means for sensing a driving speed of avehicle, wherein said on-vehicle display device displays on-vehicle dataof a first information type when said driving speed is above apredetermined driving speed and displays on-vehicle data of a secondinformation type when said driving speed is below said predetermineddriving speed while an engine is running, and wherein the firstinformation type is displayed using elements larger than the secondinformation type.
 15. An on-vehicle display device for displaying one ofa television broadcast, a navigation system and output from anon-vehicle data computation device, the on-vehicle data computationdevice comprising:means for sensing a driving speed of a vehicle,wherein said on-vehicle display device displays on-vehicle data of afirst information type when said driving speed is above a predetermineddriving speed and displays on-vehicle data of a second information typewhen said driving speed is below said predetermined driving speed whilean engine is running, and wherein the first information type content isless than the second information type content.
 16. An on-vehicle dataprocessing system that processes data while an engine is running basedon at present-speed of a vehicle detected by a detector, comprising:modesetting means responsive to the present speed of the vehicle forselecting and setting one of running and stop modes, the stop mode beingactive while the engine is running; display data processing means forcomputing running mode images indicating running states of the vehiclewhen the running mode is selected and set and for computing stop modeimages indicating various vehicle information when the stop mode isselected and set; an on-vehicle display device for displaying therunning or stop mode image computed by said display data processingmeans, wherein the mode setting means provides a hysteresischaracteristic to change between the running and the stop modes.